Malman

I'd say he's off to a decent start... :whistle Kris Harvey

:no

To compare our fan base with NY, Chicago and Boston is absurd...

I see Bump was sent to the Marlins extended sping training roster so they could activate Olsen to pitch last night for the Isotopes. Why are they doing this to Bump? He just pitched the other day and did very well and was scheduled to pitch on Thursday. I just don't understand the thinking of the Marlins. Just when Bump might be getting into a normal routine, they do this...these people should NOT be running a MLB or a minor league team. Yeah...they have a personal vendetta against poor Nate. It's disgusting. :whistle

F Wayne...

Isotopes: Solid as Wood At 36 and starting his 16th season in pro baseball, Jason Wood isn't ready to put down his bat. He's a top slugger for the 'Topes, and he's still getting looks from the Marlins By Jeremy Fowler Tribune Reporter April 6, 2006 Albuquerque Isotopes third baseman Jason Wood isn't ready to change his career or give up on his baseball dream, even though opportunities to do so keep cropping up - and time might be running short. "If I hit a point where I'm not enjoying what I'm doing, then I'll consider something else," Wood said. "But I've busted my (butt) for this game, and I have to believe there's something more for me." Wood, a journeyman minor leaguer, will begin his 16th season in professional baseball today in the Isotopes' season opener at Iowa. Jason Wood has toiled in the minors for most of his 15 seasons in professional baseball, but the Albuquerque Isotopes third baseman isn't ready to accept a role change from player to coach anytime soon. "If I hit a point where I'm not enjoying what I'm doing, then I'll consider something else," Wood said. (Craig Fritz/Tribune) The 'Topes, in their fourth season in Albuquerque, return to Isotopes Park on April 14 for the home opener against New Orleans. Wood, the 2003 and 2005 Isotopes MVP, will be among the familiar faces in the lineup. The 36-year-old has reached a stage in his career when most ballplayers have either moved on to the big leagues or to other professions. For now, Wood is content to keep dreaming, keep playing, keep clinging to that "something more." In 15 years, Wood has had 68 major league at-bats with the Oakland A's and the Detroit Tigers, a brief tease easily surpassed by his 5,993 trips to the plate in the minors, mostly in Triple-A. Wood admits he's considered doing something else to earn a living, even working in the family crop insurance business back in his hometown of Fresno, Calif. He says he might enjoy coaching baseball someday, too, just not yet. During the offseason, Wood entertained a coaching offer from Fresno State University. Wood's close friend is Fresno State pitching coach Bobby Jones, and the two have discussed whether he might want to join the Bulldogs when his playing career is over. He also has options to coach infielders with the parent Florida Marlins or other big-league teams. Jason Wood has been one of the most successful Isotopes, hitting .301 with 21 homers in 2005 in his continuing effort to prove he belongs in the big leagues. (Craig Fritz/Tribune) "I take pride in what I do," Wood said. "I'm not a rah-rah guy, but if people want to follow what I do, they can." When asked if Wood will make a good coach someday, Albuquerque Isotopes manager Dean Treanor said: "No question." Treanor, however, plans to postpone Wood's coaching days for as long as possible. "His playing days aren't over," Treanor said. "He'll be a great coach in the sense that you can have somebody on the team that has a steady influence on somebody, but he can still do that as a player." He can still hit, too. Wood finished 2005 with a .301 batting average, 21 homers and 77 RBIs. His enthusiasm for the game and desire to compete remain as strong as rookies half his age. Still, Wood realizes the rigorous lifestyle of a minor leaguer has caused him to miss out on a typical family life. He and his wife, Sissy, have a 3-year-old, a 2-year-old and a new-born daughter. Wood's job requires him to be away from his family more than he would like, and he isn't compensated financially as generously as his big-league counterparts. "The (children) are starting to realize Daddy's not there all the time," Wood said. "That's a factor for me." Despite the constant travel, baseball still holds promise for Wood, even at the highest level. Wood's performance in spring training merited serious looks from the Marlins, Treanor said. The versatile infielder can play third, second or first base. The Marlins have All-Star Miguel Cabrera at third and Isotope Jason Stokes, a touted prospect, backing up Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs. But if relatively unknown Dan Uggla doesn't produce, Wood could be a viable option at second. "He's still in that picture," Treanor said. "At the level he's still playing, he should be." Wood hasn't appeared in the majors since 1999 with Detroit. He hit .159 in 44 at-bats. That was a long time ago, of course. Besides, years don't matter when you're still playing with the vibrant effort of a Little Leaguer. "I'm still successful at what I do," Wood said. "I wish I was at the top of the chain of my profession, but I want to get back there."

Yeah, Bazardo would be like the 10th best starter in our system. Why does that matter? we still got raped in the deal Bazardo > Julianel (by a wide margin) Flannery > Julianel C'mon 3User...at the time it was the right deal...we were making a playoff push. It's easy to look back and criticize a deal for prospects. I still believe it was the right move as was Gonzalez, Smith & Snare for Urbina and Levinski & Bautista for Conine. BTW - anyone know how Travis Chick is doing these days? Ramp??? :whistle

Oh man Ed...I can't believe you posted this... :banghead No-no's gone.... :mad

Topes vs. Omaha... Olsen's line: 6.1, 5H, 1R, 0ER, 5K's, 0 BB's threw 87 pitches :notworthy Oh yeah...almost forgot - Stokes is batting .059 to start the season. :confused

*Abercrombie, Eric Reed and Chris Aguila are now a combined 3-for-24, all three hits being singles. This is a pretty bad situation imo and I think we'll see a trade at some point this season. How's Gaithright looking in Tampa thus far??? :mischief2

Not so fast... Arriola says he's staying put for now By MICHAEL VASQUEZ mrvasquez@MiamiHerald.com Miami City Manager Joe Arriola -- contrary to what his critics want, contrary to speculation further fueled by his own comments this morning on Cuban radio -- is staying put. For now, at least. In an morning interview on Spanish-language AM station WQBA, Arriola reportedly said he would leave his post once a replacement is found. The comments led at least one TV station to report that Arriola had announced his retirement. But Arriola later told the Miami Herald that his morning radio talk did not include any information not previously made public. The manager said he has made it clear he would eventually leave -- but there is no firm date as to when that would occur. It could be months and months away. When Arriola talked on the radio about stepping down once a successor was found, the manager says he was simply explaining how the process would work, not implying he'd be leaving any sooner. There is no chosen successor at this point, Arriola said, nor even any finalists for the job. Arriola noted that in 2002, Mayor Manny Diaz tapped him to lead the search for a city manager, and Arriola ended up taking the job himself when no suitable candidate was found. ''That could happen again,'' Arriola said.

Must take 2/3...

Mudcats pick up first two wins By The Rocky Mount Telegram Monday, April 10, 2006 MOBILE, Ala. ? Carolina's largest inning of the season was enough to carry the Mudcats to their second straight win in Mobile on Sunday afternoon, defeating the BayBears 6-5 at Hank Aaron Stadium. After a three-run homer by Brett Bonvechio put the Mudcats in a first inning hole, Angel Molina started a 10-batter, five-run inning to put starter Paul Mildren in the lead. Four consecutive hits began the inning, with a single by Patrick Arlis scoring one of the runs. The key hit occurred later when Lee Mitchell fisted a two-run single to short centerfield with the bases loaded, only to have Kennard Jones bobble the hit to allow Jose Campusano to score from first base. Mobile (2-2) attempted to rally, but could not capitalize on mid to late-game opportunities. The BayBears left the go-ahead runs aboard in the seventh inning, could not push across a leadoff double in the eighth, and stranded the tying and leading runs in the bottom of the ninth. Mildren (1-0) earned his first Double-A win by pitching five innings, permitting four hits and four runs. Scott Tyler brought the game to closer Chris Mobley by entering with the bases loaded in the seventh, allowing just one run to score, then pitching around a leadoff double in the eighth. The Mudcats (2-2) knocked out 12 hits for the second straight game, led by Campusano's three hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Saturday, James Russ and four Carolina relievers combined to three-hit Mobile for the Mudcats' first win of the regular season, 4-0 over the BayBears. Russ pitched five scoreless innings, allowing all of the BayBears' hits, then witnessed Matt Yourkin, Scott Tyler, Taylor Tankersley and Chris Mobley combine to no-hit Mobile the final four innings to preserve the win.

"He set a good tempo, threw strikes and kept them off-balance," Greensboro manager Brandon Hyde said. "I thought he did a great job. Pretty impressive first full-season start." Per Marlins' policy, Hyde lifted West after 85 pitches. "I'm not going to be the one to lose his job because I want a shutout," Hyde said. :notworthy Awesome...

THAT FRIDAY GAME HEAT HAS A GAME AGAINST PHILLY WHO THE HELL CARES??? :whistle

Wow, that is nice. My dorm is like 4 or 5 blocks from Fenway and I hadnt even noticed. Also, i've never been inside, and it seems it is gonna stay like that for this year since i got no tickets . Do you go to BU? :mischief2

friday against the Nats should be Dontrelle on the mound... for the SD series game one is Mitre v Woody Williams, game two we'll have Moehler and Game 3 would be Vargas, SD should have some combo of Chris Young and Dewon Brazelton, I know for sure we're avoiding Jake Peavy this series... :thumbup Thanks for posting. Hopefully the kids on break will turn out for the games on Wed & Thurs. Friday night with Dontrelle on the mound should be a nice crowd.

Does anyone have the pitching matchups for the SD series? Also, who is scheduled to pitch Friday night against the Nats? Thx

nice outing by JV tonight...

Bump took the loss in tonight's 4-1 defeat vs. Iowa. Looks like he had a good night - 5.0 innings - 2R (1 ER); 8 hits; 3 K's - 0 BB's :plain

Brian Moehler = Darren Oliver = Al Leiter = Ismael Valdez :thumbdown

God...I really hate the Mets. Two of three would be fantastic. :pray

"It was a terrible game tonight, it's the only way to explain it," said Moehler. "I didn't pitch well at all. Mechanically, I just don't feel right. Something is out of whack. The ball keeps running on me -- I'm having a hard time with location." That is not good and hopefully if he doesn't clear it up in his side session, his next start is made by someone else. Go Ricky..Go Ricky... :whistle

I'm planning on attending the Monday Marlins game against the Cubs and I want to sit behind the Cubs dugout (102, 103, etc) but the only thing that is showing up for me online is 141. If I call the box office, will they allow me to choose the section I request to sit in? Why do you want to sit behind the stinkin Cub dugout? Won't the stench bother you during the game? :mischief2 :mischief2

nothing, because whatever I buy of someone they get traded buy a penny jersey he gets traded buy a beckett jersey he gets traded buy a delgado and gone loduca is gone lowell is gone connie is gone I refuse to wear a willis or cabrera jersey. I am afraid of what might happen. Do us all a favor and pick up a Brian Moehler jersey... Thanks! :thumbup